President Obama visits Master Lock plant in Milwaukee

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President Obama promoted tax breaks for businesses that move into cities hurt by the departures of older plants in a visit to Milwaukee Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 15.

Obama made his first visit to Wisconsin in over a year by touring and speaking at the Master Lock plant which brought back 100 jobs from China in early 2011.

The Democratic president reinforced ideas from his State of the Union address in suggesting a minimum tax on multi-national companies, so U.S. firms cannot escape taxes by moving profits and jobs overseas.

With his jacket off and shirt-sleeves up, Obama stood in front a crate that said “Made in the USA” as he prodded Congress to approve his tax changes. He cited a recovery in American manufacturing as he urged companies to, “Ask what you can do to bring jobs back to your country, and your country will do everything we can to help you succeed.”

The Milwaukee trip was the first stop in a three-day swing that includes campaign fundraisers in California and Washington State.

Gov. Walker welcomes Obama

Gov. Scott Walker, fighting a flu bug, greeted Obama at the airport and presented him with a Milwaukee Brewers jersey with Obama’s name and the number 1 on it.

The Republican governor, who has been extremely critical of Obama’s policies, told a pool reporter he appreciated the president’s focus on manufacturing. “We’ll leave politics for another day,” Walker said.

About 100 of Walker’s detractors didn’t give politics a rest. They showed up at Master Lock and chanted for the governor’s recall, even though the governor wasn’t there.

Oshkosh Corp. gets $94 million order

Just because the president slashed his defense budget does not mean the Oshkosh Corp. will stop making military vehicles. Wednesday, the company said it received a $94 million order to build a logistical truck first used three years ago in Afghanistan.

Oshkosh will build over 140 of what’s called “Logistics Vehicle System Replacements.” They transport a wide range of military items, including combat vehicles, semi-trailers and large amounts of supplies.

Oshkosh has built more than 2,000 of the logistical units. The newest order is scheduled for delivery in the fall of next year.

On Monday, President Obama proposed a 2013 federal budget that includes a $600 million reduction in heavy tactical vehicles like those made by Oshkosh. Company officials said they were ready for the move, as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been winding down.

Less money for sewage improvements

The Great Lakes region would get less federal money for sewage improvements under the proposed federal budget for next year.

President Obama has proposed a 20 percent cut in low-interest loans for communities to upgrade their sewage systems.

Wisconsin and seven other Great Lakes states normally share about a third of the national sewage dollars. That means the region would get around $427 million in loan money next year, down from $533 million in the current year.

Environmentalists say the funding is crucial because the sewage overflows that follow heavy rains often result in beach closings due to contamination.

Jeff Skelding of the Healing Our Waters Great Lakes Coalition says his members are disappointed with the budget cut. He said they’ll lobby Congress to put it back.

Tags: business, wisconsin, politics